The world's most polluted city is in Europe and has been covered in toxic haze for 21 days
The air quality has been rapidly deteriorating over the last few years within the European nation.
Sarajevo, in Bosnia, has been engulfed in a toxic fog for the last three weeks. Unsurprisingly, then, the European city has clinched the unenviable title as the world’s most polluted city, followed by Kolkata, in India.
The city, boasting a population of 275,000, has the worst air quality globally.
It is estimated that over 3,000 people die prematurely in Bosnia every year due to exposure to the air pollution. This accounts for nine percent of the annual mortality, according to data released by the World Bank.
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The air pollution throughout Bosnia is so poor due to the country’s reliance on coal and wood for heating and generating electricity.
IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology company, has placed the air quality index for Sarajevo at 301, which is considered to be “hazardous”.
“This morning I felt like crying because I had to go outside and inhale poison for work. I know change takes time, but our authorities are too slow and (pollution) is killing us," said Sarajevo resident Amra Jaganjac.
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The local authorities have only recently recognised the air pollution as an acute problem.
They have begun to take steps to solve it, which includes rolling out improvements in public transport, and increasing the amount of energy-efficient buildings in the capital.
The European Union is helping Sarajevo among 100 other cities to reach net-zero emissions by 2030.
They are currently developing action and investment plans for climate neutrality across all sectors. This includes energy and transportation, which will hopefully be achieved through a process involving the private sector, citizens and research organisations.
In comparison, in London, England’s capital city which is home to almost nine million people, the air pollution level is ‘good’, and the air quality index is 43.